Form cleaning apparatus



June 1, 1937. R. VAN HYNING FORM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QM N \N m a RN mm INVENTOR WV? NW4 8) AT RNEY June 1, 1937- R VAN HY N 2,082,746

FORM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll 0 U /0 9/ M5 /Z L,

' INVENTOR ROLLYN VAN HY/vmq ATTORNEY June 1, 1937. R. VAN HYNING FORM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Pom. YN Mv/v fiY/V/N6 ATTO RN EY Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mesne assignments, to John R.

Akron, Ohio Gammeter,

Application March 29, 1935, Serial No. 13,651

4 Claims.

This invention relates to form-cleaning methods and apparatus and more especially it relates to procedure and apparatus for removing residual deposits from dipping forms that are used in the manufacture of dipped goods, such as toy balloons, finger cots, prophylactics and the like that are made from natural or artificial aqueous dispersions of rubber, for example, rubber latex.

The forms requiring to be cleaned are made of dense, impervious material such as metal, porcelain or glass, and are shown herein as being of generally cylindrical shape having one rounded, closed end. After being dipped the required number of times inthe rubber dispersion to acquire a deposit of the desired thickness thereon, the saidforms are carried through a vulcanizing medium such as hot water to vulcanize the said deposit. Thereafter the vulcanized deposits are stripped from the respective forms. Removal of the articles from the forms leaves upon the latter an extremely thin deposit of material, which is the residue of the latex that has been deposited, vulcanized, and removed from the form. This residual deposit, if not removed, will increase in ,25 thickness with successive vulcanizing operations and eventually will impair the quality of the goods. Said deposit adheres to the forms with great tenacity, and if allowed to accumulate for three or four days, is removed with difliculty even with the aid of a harsh abrasive such as steel wool.

To avoid the difliculties aforementioned, applicant cleans the dipping forms after each vulcanizing operation, and to avoid unnecessary handling of the forms, has associated the improved cleaning apparatus with the endless conveyor that carries the forms through the vulcanizing medium, said apparatus being positioned beyond the work-removing station through which said conveyor travels.

The chief objects of the invention are to save time and labor in the cleaning of dipping forms; and to provide improved procedure and improved apparatus for cleaning dipping forms in a facile and economical manner. Qther objects will be manifest.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, in its preferred form;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof, as viewed from the'right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, a part thereof being broken away for clearnessof illustration;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, I0 is the rail or track of an endless overhead conveyor system, which rail is suspended from a suitable support or from the ceiling by hangers II, II. Suitably propelled along said track is an articulated endless conveyor comprising spaced-apart C-shaped yokes or brackets I2, I2 upon which are journaled respective pairs of wheels l3, [3 that ride upon the lateral flanges of the track It. Adjacent yokes l2 are connected to each other by carriers l4 each of which comprises a pair of end-brackets M M connected to each other by a pair of rods M I l". One end of each carrier Mis pivotally connected'to a yoke I2 so as to be movable relatively thereof about a horizontal axis, and the other end of the said carrier is pivotally connected to an adjacent yoke 12 so as to be movable relatively thereof about a vertical axis, the arrangement being such that the conveyor may turn corners, or move upwardly and downwardly to different levels. Each carrier-bracket M is formed with an angular, depending'portion Hi which angular portions of each carrier aredirected toward each other and constitute cradle-like supports for a dipping form assembly or rack.

Each dipping form rack comprises a hollow metal tray-structure [6 in which is journaled a double row of vertical shafts H, H, the lower end of which, below the tray, carry respective hollow dipping forms l8, N3 of metal, glass, or other suitable material. .The upper ends of shafts l1, above the tray, have respective spur gears 19 secured thereon,the gears of each row of shafts being meshed in a train, and one gear of each train having a superposed sprocket 20 thereon for the purpose of driving the train of gears, as subsequently will be described. The sprockets 20 of each rack are offset from each other, as shown in Figure 3, so as not to interfere with each other. The endless conveyor moves the form-racks in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure l.

The'improved form-cleaning apparatus is positioned beneath the endless conveyor above described, andarranged to engage and clean the forms I8 carried by said conveyor. The forms come to the cleaning apparatus after the articles havebeen removed therefrom, and usually are somewhat Wet from the water that constitutes the vulcanizing medium.

Said form-cleaning apparatus comprises a plurality of foot-castings 22, 22 that are disposed transversely of the endless conveyor, and have short posts 23, 23 rising from their respective ends. Upon the top of each post 23 is mounted a bracket 24, and said brackets carry a pair of axially adjustable supporting bars or rails 25, 25 that are parallel to each other and to the endless conveyor. Mounted upon each rail 25, and adjustable longitudinally thereof, are three brackets 26, 26, which brackets support three transverse bars 22 2'! by engagement with the end portions thereof. Mounted upon the respective end portions of each bar 2's, astraddle the bracket 28 thereat, is a supporting bracket 28, and mounted upon the several brackets 28 are a pair of parallel base plates 29, 29 that are disposed at opposite sides of the overhead conveyor, somewhat below the same. Rising from each end of each base plate 29 is a bracket 30, and the pair of said brackets on each base plate support an elongate bearing plate 3! that is disposed in a vertical plane, somewhat above its base plate. A somewhat smaller bracket 32 is mounted on each base plate 29, medially thereof, for supporting the respective bearing plates 33 from their middle. Mounted upon each pair of brackets 39 on each side of the conveyor is an upper bearing rail 34 and a lower bearing rail 35, which bearing rails are supported intermediate their ends by a pair of brackets 36, 3'5 carried by the base plate 29. The bearing rails 34, 35 are parallel to and coextensive with the bearing plates 3i, and are disposed on the outermost side of their supporting brackets, relatively remote from said bearing plates. A pair of transverse brackets 31, 31 span the space between the base plates 29 and connect the same to each other for the purpose of imparting rigidity to the structure and for supporting bearing brackets presently to be described.

Mounted upon the base plate 25 on the near side of the apparatus as viewed in Figure 1, are three spaced apart bearing brackets 39, 39 in which is journaled a countershaft 40. For driving the said countershaft, a sprocket M is mounted thereon and connected by a sprocket chain 42 with a sprocket 43 on the driven shaft 44 of a reduction gear device 45, the latter being coupled at $6 to the shaft of a suitable motor 41. The reduction gear device 45 and motor 41 are mounted upon a platform d8 that is supported from its respective ends upon brackets 39 that are slidably mounted for vertical adjustment upon two adjacent posts 23. The arrangement provides conveniently for maintaining the chain 42 in taut condition.

Mounted upon countershaft fill, at spaced points thereon, are three spiral gears 5|, 5|, which mesh with respective spiral gears 52, 52, Figures 2 and 3, on respective shafts 53, 53 that extend transversely of the machine. Each end of each shaft 53 is journaled in a bearing bracket 5 that is mounted upon one of the lower bearing rails 35, and each of the outermost shafts 53 is also journaled in a pair of bearing brackets 55, 55 that are mounted upon one of the transverse brackets 3?, at each side of the middle of the shaft. Mounted upon the middle of each shaft 53 is a rotary bristle brush 58 of such width and diameter as to engage the closed lower end portions of both rows of forms l8 as the latter are carried through the cleaning apparatus by their endless conveyor. The brushes 5% rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, which, it will be ob served, causes the form-engaging portion of each brush to be moving in the opposite direction to the general direction of movement of the forms.

The major portion of each form l8, above the rounded lower end thereof, is cleaned by the bufiing action of a plurality of rotary bristle brushes 58, 58 that are mounted upon axes that are disposed perpendicular to the axes of the forms and transverse to the general course of travel of the forms through the cleaning apparatus. The brushes 58 are arranged in two series of five brushes each, said series being disposed on opposite sides of the machine so as to buff the respective rows. of forms carried by each dipping form rack. Each brush 58 comprises a rigid backing having laterally projecting bristles, and since the supporting and driving structures of each brush are substantially identical, the description of one will suffice for all. Attention is directed to Figure 4 wherein a brush-driving mechanism is shown in detail.

The brush 58 is mounted upon the inner end portion of a shaft 65 that is journaled in bearings iii, 51 carried by a sleeve '62 that is mounted for axial movement in a split bearing housing 63. The latter is mounted in and extends through bearing plate 3i being retained therein by a pair of setscrews (it, 64, Figure 6. The split portion of bearing housing 63 is provided with a bolt '65 by which said split portion may be tightened about the sleeve 62. One end portion of sleeve 62 is formed with male screw threads '56, and mounted upon said threaded portion is a threaded nut 61 that is secured in the end portion of housing 53 in a manner that permits it to be rotated therein. To this end a portion of nut 67 that fits within housing 63 is formed with a peripheral groove 68 that engages a tangentially disposed retaining pin 68 mounted in said housing, as is most clearly shown in Figure 5. The perimeter of a nut 61, exteriorly of the housing 63, is formed with a series of recesses or notches "Hi, iii by which the nut may be gripped by a suitable turning tool. The arrangement is such that by the loosening of bolt 55 and turning of nut 6'! the sleeve 62 and shaft 65 may be moved axially, relatively of housing 53, for the purpose of adjusting the brush 58 in proper position laterally of the forms 18 to buff the same in an efficient manner. The outer end portion of shaft 60 is slidably keyed in a coupling or sprocket hub: 72 that is secured upon a stub shaft 73 that is journaled in a bearing bracket 14 mounted upon an upper bearing rail 34.

The sprocket hubs '12 on the middle stub shafts 13 of the series of five such shafts on opposite sides of the machine, are somewhat different than the sprocket hubs on the other stub shafts in that they carry two sprockets l6 and ll, of which sprocket i6 is fixed on the hub and sprocket 'll is loose thereon, as is most clearly shown in Figure l. The other sprocket hubs I2 carry but one sprocket each. Thus at the front of the machine, the sprocket hubs 12 at the workreceiving end thereof (the left end as viewed in Figures 1 and 3) carry respective sprockets 16 that are aligned with the sprocket 716 on the middle hub '12, and the sprocket hubs at the work-receiving end of the machine (the right end) carry respective sprockets 11 that are aligned with the sprockets TI on said middle hub. The arrangement is reversed at the rear of the machine whereat the sprockets 16 are mounted on the hubs 72 at the work-delivery end of the machine and the sprockets 11 are mounted at the work-receiving end of the machine. Trained about each group of sprockets I8, and about respective sprockets 18 on the nearest shaft 53, are respective sprocket chains 88, 80. Each chain 88 is trained over the outermost sprockets 16 of the group and under the middle sprocket, the arrangement being such that when the machine is in operation, adjacent brushes 58 are rotated in opposite direction as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. In like manner sprocket chains 8|, 8| are trained about the respective series of sprockets l1 and about sprockets 82, 82 on the respective driven shafts 53.

As the forms I8 are propelled through the machine by the endless conveyor and buffed by the brushes 56 and 58, they are rotated upon their respective axes so as to present their entire surface to the action of said brushes. To this end angular, upwardly-extending brackets 84, 84 are secured to the respective ends of each bearing plate 3|, and carry at their upper ends a pair of parallel channels 85, 85 that extend longitudinally of the machine, at each side of the path of the form-dipping racks, the longitudinal grooves of the channels facing each other. Mounted in the said grooves in channels 85 are respective sprocket chains 86, 88 that have their end portions looped about arcuate end-pieces 81, 81. At one end of the machine the chains 88 are fixedly secured to the end-pieces 81. At the other end of the machine the ends of the chains 86 are adjustably anchored to short arms 88 projecting laterally from the channels 85, the arrangement permitting the chains to be loosened or tightened as desired. The chains 86 are so positioned that they engage the respective sprockets 28 of each dipping-form rack as said racks are propelled through the machine. Thus they cause rotation of said sprockets and the interconnected gears I9 of each gear train on said racks, and the forms I8 on the shafts I! with said gears. Because of the intermeshing of adjacent gears I9, the adjacent forms I8 rotate in opposite directions.

Mounted upon the respective channels 85 at the work-receiving end of the machine are upwardly extending, cam-like structures 98, 88 that are disposed in the path of rollers 9|, 9| projecting laterally from one of the brackets I l of each carrier unit. Thus any carriers that approach the machine in a slightly tilted position will be restored to proper position by engagement of the rollers 9I with the cams 98.

At their opposite ends the bracket plates 3| are connected, at their lower margins, by respective metal straps or bars 93, that extend transversely of the machine. Mounted upon spacer blocks 94 carried by the respective bars 93 is a guide rail 95 that extends longitudinally of the machine between the rows of forms I8 passing therethrough. The rail 95 has tapered end portions, and is of such Width and height as lightly to contact the respective forms in a relatively narrow region. The rail 95 provides a rigid backing for the forms and imparts lateral rigidity thereto as they are engaged by the laterally disposed rotary brushes 58.

Extending upwardly from the guide rail 95 to a point above the forms I8 is a separator plate 91 which may be of glass. The plate 9! prevents fine particles of matter buffed from either row of forms I8 from lodging on the forms of the other row.

Beneath the machine may be mounted a trough 98 for receiving the material bufied from the forms, and said trough may be provided with an outlet 99, connected to a suitable source of suction (not shown) if desired.

The brushes 58 are so arranged that they buff the forms transversely, which arrangement has been found to be much more effective than buffing them in the direction of their axes. The feature of driving alternate brushes in opposite directions assures that the forms will be buffed in opposite directions; and that all forms will receive an equal amount of buffing, notwithstanding alternate forms rotate in opposite directions.

The apparatus removes the most obstinate deposits from the forms in one passage through the machine, and achieves the other advantages set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, which are not limited wholly to the specific construction shown or exact procedure described.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for cleaning cylindrical dipping forms, the combination of an axial and a lateral support for each form, means for feeding the forms laterally in a direction transversely of their axes and relatively to their lateral support, means for rotating the forms on their axes as they are so fed, and means for bufling them in a direction transversely of their axes on the opposite side thereof from said lateral support as they are so fed.

2. In apparatus for cleaning cylindrical dipping forms, the combination of an axial support for each form, a lateral support common to a plurality of said forms, means for moving the forms laterally along said lateral support, means for rotating the forms on their axes as they are so moved, and means for buffing the forms in a direction transversely of their axes on the opposite side thereof from said lateral support as they are so moved.

3. In apparatus for cleaning cylindrical dipping forms, the combination of an axial and a lateral support for each form, means for feeding the forms laterally in a direction transversely of their axes, means for rotating the forms on said axes as they are so fed, and means for buffing the forms alternately in opposite directions transversely of their axes on the opposite side thereof from said lateral support as they are so fed.

4. In apparatus for cleaning cylindrical dipping forms, the combination of an axial support for a form engaging one end thereof, means for rotating said support so as to rotate the form on its own axis, a stationary lateral support 10- cally abutting one side of the form, and means for bufiing the form on the opposite side thereof from said lateral support.

ROLLYN VAN HYNING. 

